Latest news with #Birkenhead
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
A high street has turned into 'a ghost town'
Delayed roadworks have turned a high street into "a ghost town," as Birkenhead town centre looks set to deal with more work until June 2026. Regeneration works across Birkenhead are moving forward on the main high street on Grange Road, Charing Cross, Conway Street, and Europa Boulevard. These are intended to feed into the regeneration of the town centre and 'make the area a better, safer and a more connected place to live, work and travel.' The scheme, being delivered by GRAHAM, is understood to be a year behind schedule with more than half still to be done, and the costs have doubled. Originally approved with a £11.9m budget, it's expected to now cost £24m. READ MORE: Told to leave in 24 hours and no word on when they can return READ MORE: 'He broke my family and left three children without their mother' A new report before the local authority's policy and resources committee on July 23 has outlined the situation. Serious questions have been raised about the council's former leadership, and it's now expected the council might have to borrow £8m to cover the costs. The report said the main reasons for the delay 'relate to design, both in terms of late design information being provided together with design issues such as the depth of construction and unknown statutory utility services equipment.' Defects have also been raised by the site supervisor, which are being worked through. Violet Perkins comes to Birkenhead every week. She told the ECHO: 'It's disgraceful; it shouldn't have taken so long." She added: 'There's no shops open. I find it very difficult to go to shops because of the work. I just come in once a week because it's horrendous.' While she understood the scheme could lead to future investment by making it look more attractive, she argued: 'You aren't going to invest in a property if you can't get to it.' As the barriers keeping the public away from the works have narrowed the road, Layla Dillon said: 'I do not come into Birkenhead any more, I go to Liverpool now because of the small gaps. You can't get the pram down here. I just get on the bus and go to Liverpool. 'There's only a bit to walk down, and sometimes when it's rammed, people do not care. It's so small, especially down by the Pyramids. There's only one way in.' Stephen Oakes lives ten minutes up the road and feels the scheme would make the area look cleaner. However, he added: 'It's had a big impact on the buses; the buses are sometimes ten to fifteen minutes late. "I have got to school late because of the bus to drop my son off. I have been late for appointments.' Kimberley Trevor felt some of the delays were because 'they need to make their minds up about what is changing and what is staying,' adding: 'They are taking things away and bringing them back. It's not fair on the people that live in Birkenhead. 'I think they are trying to make it look better so more people want to shop, but that doesn't change what the town is. Down here used to be packed constantly. 'You can see the difference; not many people come here. It's like a ghost town. This used to be packed when I was little; now it's not.' It's not just the public too. In a recent committee meeting, councillors from different parties criticised the situation, and Cllr Jo Bird said there were very serious questions about the council's contract and contractor GRAHAM. Conservative Cllr Andrew Gardner told the ECHO the council needed a different approach going forward. Wirral's new council leader Cllr Paula Basnett said she shared the public's frustration and pointed to the external investigation she called for. She previously said the council needed to "get a proper grip of what is going on," adding: "Strong leadership demands that difficult decisions are faced up to." Oxton councillor Stuart Kelly also told the ECHO it was clear the scheme has been off track for a while "with scant evidence of works progressing and road closures with nothing being done." Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Phil Gilchrist said he also raised concerns in April as 'frankly anyone walking or driving through Birkenhead cannot have missed the slow progress of this work." GRAHAM, the firm delivering the scheme, said it would not be commenting. Merseytravel was also approached for comment.
BBC News
14 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Wirral leader says 'nothing swept under carpet' in regeneration probe
"Nothing will be hidden" from investigators probing a council's troubled regeneration programmes, its leader has said. Paula Basnett, who became leader of Wirral Council in May, announced an internal investigation of the Birkenhead town centre project early into her regeneration works in the town are behind schedule and over budget, with the council expected to borrow £8m to cover a rise in costs to £24m. Ms Basnett, who is a councillor for Rock Ferry, said the council needed to get a grip on the situation. "I do think that we have to understand why it's been delayed and why there was an overspend. Our residents are entitled and should be made aware," Basnett said."I walk up Grange Road and I see the work taking place. I see the impact it's having on our businesses. I see the impact it's having on our residents."They want to be able to enjoy shopping and browsing around the shops." The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the works, taking place across the entire town centre, were £2.8m over budget the day a contract was were so concerned that on 21 July they decided not to approve any further funding until investigations had said on her election as leader that improving neighbourhoods, sorting out the council's finances, and getting regeneration back on track were her three main priorities."I won't be brushing anything under the carpet," she said."[The investigation] will be open and transparent. We will be holding officers to account."Our residents are entitled to hear what has been going on and I fully appreciate that once we do have those findings, it will be out in the public domain."The findings are expected later this year. Basnett said she hoped the outcome of a wider review would set out realistic timelines and costs, allowing councillors to prioritise projects. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Peter Sullivan murder miscarriage of justice payout 'not enough'
An increase in compensation due to a man who spent 38 years in jail on a murder conviction that was recently overturned "does not go far enough", his lawyer has said. Peter Sullivan, 68, has been described as the victim of Britain's longest-running miscarriage of justice, having been jailed in 1987 for the brutal murder of 21-year-old Diane Sindall in Birkenhead. The Ministry of Justice is to raise the amount paid to people wrongly jailed for more than a decade to £1.3m from £1m. But Mr Sullivan's lawyer Sarah Myatt said the increase was only half the rate of inflation since the £1m cap came in in 2008. Inflation since the cap's introduction in 2008 stands at 68%, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Ms Myatt said "[the increase is] a very small step forward", adding: "I don't think it's enough at all."The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said the increase would create "a fairer and better justice system". 'No amount' Mr Sullivan was freed when his conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal in May, after new testing of preserved semen samples produced a DNA profile that pointed to another, unknown, Police has since re-opened its investigation into Miss Sindall's murder but the force said "unfortunately" searches of the national DNA database had not come up with any Myatt said Mr Sullivan had "lost 38 years of his life, nearly four decades of his life"."There is not any amount that would be able to compensate somebody for that."She said the amount victims are eligible for should be "sufficient to mean that somebody can then continue the rest of their life in utmost comfort".Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: "Fairness is the ideal that underpins our justice system. Where it has failed to meet that ideal, victims of devastating miscarriages of justice must be able to rebuild their lives."This uplift will ensure victims are compensated for the crimes they did not commit and the years they cannot get back."Once eligible, the level of compensation will be decided by an independent Malkinson, 58, from Manchester, who spent 17 years in prison for a rape crime he did not commit, has described the proposed cap increase as "insulting". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Daily Mail
16-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Girl, nine, rushed to hospital 'with head injury' after being hit by bus
A little girl has suffered a possible head injury after she was struck by a bus on a busy road. The nine-year-old was hit by a double decker in Birkenhead, Liverpool, earlier this afternoon with passersbys and neighbours dashing to help the child, it was reported. She was quickly rushed to hospital to be assessed for a head injury while a wide cordon was put in place around the bus. Swarms of cops were called to New Chester Road after they heard of the accident that took place at 3.50pm. Police tape on was set up from the junction of Woodward Road to the junction of Dell Grove and drivers were asked to avoid the area. One local who saw the aftermath of the crash told the Liverpool Echo: 'I came home from work and I saw the ambulance and all the police cars. 'It's just so heartbreaking. I hope the little girl is okay.' Another said they saw five or 10 people immediately run to help the girl. The road often has accidents, with the large trees preventing drivers from properly seeing pedestrians crossing the street, one resident added. The road has since opened but Merseyside Police urged any witnesses or members of the public with information to get in touch. The police said in a statement earlier today: 'We can confirm that emergency services are in Birkenhead following a serious collision this afternoon, Tuesday 15 July. 'At around 3.50pm, emergency services were called to New Chester Road, New Ferry near to the junction with Platt Grove to reports of a bus in collision with a pedestrian, a nine-year-old girl. 'The girl has been taken to hospital for assessment of a head injury. 'A cordon is in place, including a road closure on New Chester Road from the junction of Woodward Road to the junction of Dell Grove. 'We would advise all motorists to avoid the area and encourage them to plan an alternative route if travelling through the area. 'Anyone who witnessed the collision or captured the incident on CCTV or dashcam is asked to contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) on (0151) 777 5747, or email SCIU@ 'Alternatively DM @MerPolCC or @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111, quoting reference 25000582795.' In December, a 12-year-old boy was injured in a road traffic collision on New Cheter Road. The child was struck by a car at 3.35pm and was rushed to hospital with a facial injury.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Yahoo
Girl, 9, taken to hospital after being hit by bus
A nine-year-old girl has been taken to hospital after she was hit by a bus in Wirral. Merseyside Police said it happened at about 15:50 BST on New Chester Road, near its junction with Platt Grove, in New Ferry, Birkenhead. The girl was being assessed for a head injury, the force added. A cordon was put in place and New Chester Road was closed from the junction of Woodward Road to the junction of Dell Grove and motorists were advised to avoid the area. Police have appealed for witnesses or anyone with information to get in touch. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
